The sphere is alien in origin but has been controlled by man for millennia. A legend as old as the stars rules this constructed world: when the seventh seventh seventh human Heptarch is crowned, he will be the Kristos and will bring salvation—or eternal destruction of the cosmos.

Patience is the only daughter of the rightful Heptarch, but she, like her father, serves the usurper who has destroyed her family; for she believes that duty to one’s race is more important than duty to one’s self. But the time for prudence has passed, and Patience must journey to the heartsoul of the planet with a small band of companions to confront her destiny—and the destiny of her world.

Wyrms is a science fiction epic with mythological style that is sure to enchant listeners with its unique world and premise.

Quotes & Awards

“One of the most gripping SF adventure novels of recent years.”

Science Fiction Chronicle

“[Patience’s] journey…is by turns a romantic, comic, and nightmarish education/final exam/rite of passage in a world of noble goblins and idiot savants, where the dead guide the living and where human and alien have intermingled in bizarre and now inseparable ways. A wonderful, textured fable.”

Publishers Weekly

“Emily Janice Card narrates, providing the perfect voice for the character of Patience…Emily Card’s performance of a scene in which Patience has a difficult conversation with her father’s head is distinctive and chilling.”

AudioFile

“Another outstanding science fiction novel from the prize-winning author of Ender’s Game…This is a fast-moving, absorbing story that asks readers to consider the relationship between government and the governed and between so-called superior and inferior races.”

School Library Journal

A New York Times Best Book of the Year

Listener Opinions

Jenni | 2/20/2014

" I listened to the unabridged version of this audio book from audible, and it was great. Narrated well and a captivating story, you'll be hooked! "

Grady Owens | 1/21/2014

" Easily my favorite of Orson Scott Card's books, and for me that's saying a lot. I fell in love with his writing starting with Ender's Game, but this book takes the cake. A young woman discovers she is not only the rightful heir to the throne on her colonized planet, but furthermore she has been chosen by the Unwyrm, a beast whose will seems to control the world around it, to be its mate. Where creatures lack will, intelligence, or mercy, she must make her quest to the Unwyrm's lair and end its invisible rule before her people are doomed. "

Dacia | 1/19/2014

" It was ok, but not by any means a favorite by this author. It was entertaining but very abstract. Alot of the book is speant guessing at what certain words actually mean. I also found alot of the book disturbing. The family relationships were so unnatural. "

Shawn Hurst | 1/18/2014

" interesting book just a bit to science fiction for me. "

Dawn | 12/25/2013

" The story was compelling and addictive. As a 13-year-old, the ending was too graphic for my taste, shockingly explicit, more so because of the spare and almost impersonal descriptions of the events. Absolutely unforgettable. "

Zoe Zuniga | 12/25/2013

" I think Scott meant this to be trashy scifi but he is such a great writer and knows his craft so well that even human sex with worms is beautiful when he does it! "

Jake | 11/3/2013

" The overtly sexual nature of this book surprised and repulsed me. The plot seemed forced as well. Not what you would expect from the creator of the Ender-verse. "

Fred D | 10/27/2013

" I read this soon after Hart's Hope. Also one of Card's earlier novels. It was better than Hart's Hope. Better, more interesting characters, more compelling plot. "

Sonja | 10/19/2013

" This was a bizarre book. "

Michelle | 9/21/2013

" I remember this one giving me nightmares. "

Wes | 9/19/2013

" Another great tale. This one takes you across many different kinds of things and still finds a way of striking reality to the reader. "

Robin | 8/2/2013

" I think Futurama needs to give this book props for the whole maintaining-heads-in-a-jar thing. "

" Creepy and sometimes strangely erotic. A dark SciFi thriller- Patience, daughter to the rightful ruler, must journey to face her fate and succumb or destroy that which has awakened. "

Kim | 7/3/2012

" This was a good book, but I gave it a three because the whole trying to relate it to the bible was kind of wierd. It was an interesting concept though and I felt it was well written. "

Michelle L | 2/27/2012

" a little bit too weird for me- has some weird sexual type stuff "

Scott | 2/6/2012

" Reading this was a slog through cold molasses. It's as if Card's goal was to squeeze every ounce of excitement out of the fantasy quest genre and set it out to evaporate. "

Julio | 1/26/2012

" A very disappointing comics adaptation of a great book. "

Tim Sheppard | 1/17/2012

" Too weird and graphic. Only a true Orson fan would appreciate it. The characters are pretty unique though. "

Bethany | 10/28/2011

" despite a creepy cover and weird title, a very good book! "

Jed | 9/21/2011

" I really ejoyed this book until the climax, I found it very dirty and disapointing. "

Shane | 8/9/2011

" My least favorite OSC book. "

David | 5/1/2011

" Interesting so far. Which part of the triune soul will win?
"

Mary | 4/24/2011

" kind of odd and strange.
"

Shawn | 3/16/2011

" interesting book just a bit to science fiction for me.
"

Stephanie | 2/22/2011

" Did NOT like this book ... trying to convince myself that I didn't waste my time reading it. Oh, well. Water under the bridge.
"

Abbie | 12/28/2010

" read the graphic, and it suffered slightly in adaptation. there were times i was wondering what exactly was going on, and that really isn't a good thing. however the art was decent, and the story seemed to be pretty good. might try the "real" book sometime...
"

Ender | 12/5/2010

" I liked it very much. It's a lot like Ender's Game
"

Shane | 11/7/2010

" My least favorite OSC book.
"

Joel | 10/1/2010

" Would have liked it better if not for the disturbing (not even erotic) sexual themes.
"

Other Titles by Orson Scott Card:

About the Author

Orson Scott Card, the author of the New York Times bestseller Ender’s Game, has won several Hugo and Nebula awards for his works of speculative fiction. His Ender novels are widely read by adults and younger readers and are increasingly used in schools. Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy, American-frontier fantasy, biblical novels, poetry, plays, and scripts.

About the Narrator

Emily Janice Card (a.k.a. Emily Rankin) is an actor, writer, and singer from North Carolina, now residing in Los Angeles. In addition to being a narrator, she has directed numerous audiobooks, including the 2007 Audie and Earphones Award winner Hubris, Legacy of Ashes by Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Weiner, and Them by Nathan McCall. Her own audiobook narration has won her four Earphones Awards.

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